Carpenter s folding square



PATBNTED JAN. 5, 1904.

W. STEERS, s3. GARPENTERS FOLDING SQUARE.

APPLICATION I'IYLED JULY 16, 1903.

K0 MODEL. 7

UNITED I STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM STEERS, SR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANCIS COLLINSAND GUSTAV'WEISE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CARPENTERS FOLDING SQUARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,112, dated January5, 1904.

Application filed July 16, 1903- Serial IIo. 165,741. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM STEERS, Sr., a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpenters and JoinersFolding Squares, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a square, such as is used bycarpenters, joiners, masons, and other mechanics; and it consists incertain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, andoperation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a square the membersof which may be folded together, so that it can be placed in a tool-boxwithout projecting therefrom, and which shall be simple and inexpensivein construction, strong, and durable, with its parts so arranged thatthe members comprising the blades of the square may be locked or firmlyheld either in their extended or folded positions.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that whenthe members .are folded together there will be no projecting portion attheir joint to be marred or inj nred by other tools.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a faceview of a portion of a square embodying my invention, showing itsmembers in their extended positions. Fig. 2 is aface view, partlyinsection, showing portions of the members comprising the square foldedtogether. Fig. 3 is a'fragmental face View of the square, showing theparts in the act of being folded. Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. l; andFig. 5 is a face view of a portion of the square, showing a modificationin its construction and illustrating the members folded together bycontinuous lines and extended by dotted lines.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views of the drawings.

The reference-numeral 10 represents the longer member or blade, and thenumeral 11 represents the shorter member or blade, both of which may beprovided with a scale representing feet, inches, and fractions thereof.These blades may be made of any suitable size, length, and material, butpreferably of metal. The member 10 is provided at one of its ends (whichI will term its upper end) with two lateral extensions 12, which havetheir free ends rounded and'formed with a recess 13 to receive aprojection 14 on the free end of a spring 15, which is secured to theupper edge of the member or blade 11 by means of rivets 16 or otherwise.As is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 of the drawings, the extensions12 are located a slight distance apart and parallel with one another, soas to receive the inner end of the shorter member, which end is reducedor formed with a tenon 17, having a slot 18 for the reception andoperation of a pivot-pin 19, which passes through the extensions 12 andpivotally secures the shorter member 11 to the longer one.

By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be seen that the member10 has in its upper portion a recess 20, which communicates with thespace between the extensions 12 and is for the reception and operationof the inner end of the shorter member. Extending upwardly from thelower wall of the recess 20 is a lug 21, which is used to engage arecess 22 in the lower edge of the tenon 17 of the shorter member whensaid member is extended, thereby serving to assist in securing it in thesaid position. The extensions 12' are each provided with a recess 23 intheir upper edges to receive the projection 14 on the spring 15 when theshorter member is in its raised position.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification,which consists in forming theextensions 12 substantially circular and employing a shorter memberwithout the slot 18 used in the other construction. In this modificationit is apparent that the shorter member when folded to the position shownby continuous lines in Fig. 5

will project somewhat beyond the end of the longer member; but otherwisethe operation and construction of the parts are the same as shown inFigs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and above set forth.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen andclearly understood that when the members and 11 are in the positionsshown in Fig. 1 they will be firmly held by means of the spring 15,which is countersunk in the upper edge of the member 11 and the upperedges of the extensions 12, and by means of the lug or projection 21,which engages the recess 22 in the tenon or reduced portion 17 of theshorter member. When it is desired to fold the members together, thespring is released from the recesses 23 in the extensions 12, when byturning the member 11 on the pivot 19 it is evident that the slot 18will permit it to slide downward, so that its upper end'will be aboutflush with the upper edges of said extensions. When thus foldedtogether, the spring 15 will engage the recesses 13 in the free ends ofthe extensions and firmly hold the members together.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A foldingsquare, comprising two members, one of said members beingprovided at one of its ends with arecess and two parallel and lateralextensions, said extensions havbers, one of said members being providedat one of its ends with a recess and two parallel and lateralextensions, said extensions having recesses in their free ends and upperedges, the other member having near one of its ends a slot and in itsedge a recess and located between said extensions, a pin passing throughsaid slot and secured in the extensions, a projection located in therecess of the first-named member, and a spring secured to the edge ofthe slotted member and having a projection to engage the recess in theextensions, snbstantially as described.

WILLIAM STEERS, SR. Witnesses:

CHAS. C. TILLMAN, A. GUSTAFSON.

